Wastewater Treatment Facility Complements On-Line Monitoring With Automated Control

Integrated treatment control system improves efficiency and effectiveness of phosphorus removal for Minnesota River Valley Public Utilities Commission (MRVPUC).

The Minnesota River Valley Public Utilities Commission (MRVPUC) provides wastewater treatment for the City of Le Sueur and the City of Henderson in south-central Minnesota. Its wastewater treatment plant serves a domestic population of about 4,500; however, more than 50 percent of treatment plant influent flow and load consists of industrial waste. This unusually high percentage of industrial load often results in large, unexpected volumes to the system. A significant factor is the highly varying phosphorus load that challenges operators to meet the utility’s annual average discharge limit of 1.0 mg/L total phosphorus.